Pick up a newspaper and it’s more likely than not you’ll see a mention of lithium’s role in electric vehicles and, increasingly, energy storage. These batteries serve valuable purposes, but what you don’t see mentioned are the limitations of the applications of lithium batteries: insecure supply chains, risky flammability, and inadequate recyclability.  It’s not a matter of “if”, but “when” all the complements and altern....

Three natural problems that can have a major impact on any prospective solar project are unfavorable soil conditions, extreme topography, and a harsh climate. These three site conditions affect the design of a project and can drastically increase project costs. Previously, many developers walked away from difficult projects due to added costs from addressing disparaging conditions; in recent years, however, challenging sites have become prime can....

As we see widespread power outages caused by more frequent weather and natural disasters, it’s evident something needs to change. Relying on a century-old grid design, characterized by energy produced at a distance from consumption, is no longer viable. By 2030, energy systems will have to look very different from today to keep up with population and the demand for electricity, as well as to be more resilient. Distributed generation throug....